Top Picks in News

Goldman buys real estate portfolio from Lehman

MSN MoneyNovember 1, 2011

The sale was previously approved by the bankruptcy court in August. The portfolio is comprised of 10 buildings representing 3 million square feet of space and 30 percent of all commercial real estate in Rosslyn, Va. Monday Properties, which originally ...more »

New law would revamp Illinois School Report Cards

Chicago TribuneNovember 1, 2011

Organizers held more than 60 focus groups statewide, said Robin Steans, executive director of the nonpartisan education policy group Advance Illinois and the co-chair of the committee that oversaw the redesign project. "If we do our job right," Steans ...more »

Constitutional Law & Civil Rights News and Stories

Affirmative Action

Pelosi leads Democrats' challenge to DOMA

San Francisco ChronicleNovember 4, 2011

The contract to defend the law, paid with taxpayer funds, does not require a full House vote. The Democrats' brief argues that Congress acted hastily in 1996, operating under negative stereotypes about gays and lesbians who at the time were not ...more »

Freedom Of Speech & Religion

Court rules on Film Act case

Independent OnlineNovember 1, 2011

Welcoming the judgment, Sanef said it was “an important contribution to the growing body of law that recognises and protects the centrality of freedom of expression in general, and freedom of the press in particular to our democracy”. ...more »

Age, Gender, Race & National Origin Discrimination

Feds want Alabama student enrollment information

Montgomery AdvertiserNovember 1, 2011

The department also wants a list of unexplained absences since the law took effect on September 27. The districts must send the information to DOJ by Nov. 14. Mackey said districts do not collect information on students' nations of origin, ...more »

Native Americans

Former NAACP leader lends voice to Md. same-sex marriage campaign

Washington Post (blog)November 1, 2011

Among African American voters, 41 percent voiced support in the poll, and 59 percent said they were opposed. Bond is considered a legend in the civil rights movement. During the early 1960s, he helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee ...more »

Religious Discrimination

David Williams, Hindu leader talk, but neither give ground

Louisville Courier-Journal (blog)November 5, 2011

She said she was relieved by Williams' assurance that “you have not and would not discriminate against anyone on the basis of their beliefs.” She acknowledged the two have “irreconcilable” views — her Hindu view that there are many valid religious...more »

Eminent Domain

Referendum initiatives prevent eminent domain abuse

Daily CallerNovember 9, 2011

As a result, 44 states have enacted eminent domain reform laws that restrict the condemnation of property for the benefit of private interests. The most recent state to react to Kelo is Mississippi. On Tuesday, Mississippi voters adopted Measure 31 by ...more »

Sexual Harassment

RADIO BUZZ: WHAT CONSTITUTES SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE? NAVY VET ...

FOX News RadioNovember 8, 2011

“Well – under the law – the term sexual harassment is defined as conduct that is of a sexual nature as opposed to profanity or just general boorishness. But of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive. Severe could be a one time very serious thing ...more »

Freedom Of Information

FG inaugurates c'ttee to implement FoI Act

VanguardNovember 4, 2011

BY OKEY NDIRIBE ABUJA — The Federal Government has dispelled speculations in some quarters that it was reluctant to implement the Freedom of Information Act. This clarification was made, yesterday, in Abuja by the Head of Service of the Federation,HOS ...more »

Unlawful Search & Seizure

Searches ruling reviewed

Statesman JournalNovember 20, 2011

But Moan replied that a threat of a liability suit against police for unlawful conduct, under state or federal laws, "would provide incentives for officers against it." He said the element of "free will" is key. "The nature of the seizure is going to ...more »

Freedom Of Press

Religious freedom?

World MagazineNovember 1, 2011

Kyle McCarter, it's ironic that the Illinois law that caused this upheaval boasts of protecting “religious freedom” in its title: The Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. “You would think that [religious freedom] was going to come into ...more »